Gaza violence spirals, UN warns of regional threat

GAZA CITY, Palestinian Territories--Israeli warplanes pounded Gaza relentlessly on Thursday, causing a growing number of civilian casualties, as the U.N. Security Council was meeting urgently over Israel's spiraling confrontation with Hamas.

Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas has accused Israel of committing “genocide” in Gaza, but Israel showed no sign of letting up, with six children among 27 Palestinians killed in air strikes carried out since midnight (2100 GMT).

And Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed even tougher action against Hamas, despite growing international calls for a ceasefire in the worst confrontation in and around Gaza since 2012.